PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:      

	BOARD DATE:           17 SEPTEMBER 2002                  
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR2002075493

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Carl W. S. Chun		Director	
	Ms. Deborah L. Brantley		Senior Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.		Chairperson	
	Mr. Thomas B. Redfern III		Member	
	Ms. Karen A. Heinz		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his military records be corrected to reflect award of the Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Star Medal.  In support of his request he submits a copy of his separation report and a copy of a 2001 Authorization for the Issuance of Awards form.

3.  The applicant's original military personnel file was apparently lost or destroyed during the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center.  Information available to the Board, from the applicant's separation report, indicates the applicant served on active duty between April 1944 and April 1946 when he was discharged as a result of demobilization.  He served as a rifleman with the 65th Armored Infantry Battalion in the overseas theater of operations between February and July 1945.  Item 31 (Military Qualification and Date), on his WD AGO Form 53-55 (Enlisted Record and Report of Separation-Honorable Discharge) indicates the applicant was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge in May 1945.  The badge is recorded as "C.I.B." and the applicant's final pay voucher confirms he was receiving combat infantry pay.

4.  Army Regulation 600-8-22 provides, in pertinent part, that World War II holders of the Combat Infantryman Badge are entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal.  Awards of the Bronze Star Medal based on the Combat Infantryman Badge are commonly referred to as conversion awards.

5.  A review of Department of the Army Pamphlet 672-1 (Unit Citation and Campaign Participation Credit Register) notes the applicant’s unit was granted occupation credit in Germany while the applicant was assigned to the unit.  As such he is entitled to the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" Clasp.  The award was omitted from his separation document.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's award of the Combat Infantryman Badge is already reflected on his separation document and as such, no additional correction is required in that item.

2.  However, the Board does note that the applicant is entitled to an award of the Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on the Combat Infantryman Badge.  His separation document should be corrected accordingly.

3.  The applicant is also entitled to the Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" Clasp and that award should also be added to his separation document.

4.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected:

a.  by awarding the individual concerned the Bronze Star Medal as a conversion award based on his World War II Combat Infantryman Badge; and

b.  by showing that he is entitled to an Army of Occupation Medal with "Germany" Clasp.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied.

BOARD VOTE:  

__EJA___  __TBR__  __KAH __  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___Elzey J. Arledge, Jr.___
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR2002075493	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	20020917	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT 	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.	107.00	
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.